Nine pool records set at FIU swimming/diving invitational

FIU swimming and diving hosted its most challenging field in the young program’s history in early January when it welcomed nationally recognized teams to the Bay Vista Aquatics Center at the Biscayne Bay Campus. Among the guests: Purdue, at the time ranked 20th; then-fifth-ranked Oakland ; and then-no. 22 Tulane. Four other visiting teams also participated in the invitational meet.

“Having top-quality teams like this wanting to come to our pool shows how far along our program is right now,” noted FIU head coach Noemi Zaharia. “The competition that these teams provide will help us as we look to build this program to that level.”

A number of pool records fell during the event. Purdue, which won the meet, established six of the new superlatives, five of them in individual events. The FIU women finished fifth out of the eight participating teams.

In diving, junior Megan Balkenbush recorded a pair of NCAA Zone qualifying performances. She achieved point totals in the one-meter and three-meter events that represented career bests as well as pool bests.

To view the remaining swimming and diving season schedule, visit www.fiusports.com/swimming/index.htm.